"I felt lighter inside than I had in years": Alex Easton's Kilimanjaro diary
Alex Easton and team on Kilimanjaro's summit
7 min read
Alex Easton, Independent MP for North Down, climbed through grief to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. His diary describes how he pushed through, losing toenails along the way
There are some days in your life that change you forever. For me, that day was the morning of 23 January 2023, when I got the phone call that my parents’ home was on fire. When I got there, it was too late. Both my mum and dad had died, and I had to identify them at their home. It was something no son should ever have to do.
I was broken after that. It took everything out of me. What got me through was the incredible kindness of people right across North Down. Folk called, messaged and stopped me in the street. That support gave me strength. It also made me think more deeply about mental health, grief, and what people go through silently every day.
That’s why I decided to do something positive – something that would make a difference to others. I wanted to raise money for two charities close to my heart: uHub mental health charity in Bangor, which helps people struggling with their mental health, and Bangor Foodbank, which supports families in need.
Every step was painful, but I didn’t care – I’d done it. I felt lighter inside than I had in years
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest free-standing mountain in the world, seemed like a good way to do something that was physically and emotionally tough – something that matched the journey I’d been on myself.
Day 1
I trained hard for months before the trip – walking, hiking, and getting myself in the best shape I could. I wasn’t doing it alone either. Three of my best mates, Stuart, Brian and Simon, decided to come with me. We’ve been friends for over 25 years, so it meant a lot to take this challenge on together.
In June, before we even left, we held a fundraising dinner at the Clandeboye Lodge Hotel. It was a brilliant night, full of laughter, generosity and community spirit. We had great food, great company and plenty of craic. That evening alone raised over £7,000.
The support from family, friends, and everyone back home in North Down was unbelievable. By the time we boarded the plane, we’d already raised £30,000. I was completely blown away.
The day we left didn’t go to plan. We missed our connecting flight from Belfast due to a technical fault with British Airways – and that was just the start of it. We rebooked for the next day but then found out that Stuart and Simon’s visas had a wrong digit on them. That small error nearly threw the whole trip into jeopardy.
Alex Easton on the Barranco Wall
Brian and I managed to get our flight out the next morning. Flying into Tanzania and seeing Kilimanjaro for the first time was something I’ll never forget. It stood there, massive and snow-capped, stretching above the clouds. “What have I got myself into?” I wondered.
Stuart and Simon were still back home sorting their visas. Thankfully, the online visa issue with Kenya was resolved quickly, and they were able to get on an overnight flight. The team was back together again.
The next morning we met our guides, got our safety briefing, and packed everything we needed for six days of climbing. We’d go through rainforest, rocky slopes, and freezing ice at the top. They told us to expect altitude sickness and sleepless nights. I’ll be honest – I was nervous.
That first night, lying in the tent, I thought about my parents. I could almost hear my dad’s voice telling me: “You can do this, Alex.”
Day 2
The first day of climbing was through thick rainforest – humid, wet, and full of strange noises. Spirits were high, though. The four of us were laughing and joking, enjoying the adventure.
But as the hours went by, it got tougher. The air grew thinner, and my legs started to ache. The guides kept saying, “Pole, pole”, which means “slowly, slowly”. It became our motto. This wasn’t about racing to the top. It was about getting there together, one step at a time.
Day 3
The day before we faced the Barranco Wall, disaster struck. Simon slipped and twisted his ankle badly while making his way over rocky ground. He wanted to keep going, but the guides said it wasn’t safe. He was devastated, but he told us to finish it for him – we promised we would.
Day 4
By the next morning, the rest of us were exhausted. Then we came face to face with the Barranco Wall, a massive 800-foot wall of rock we had to climb using both hands.
When we reached the top, we looked out across the clouds and stood there for a moment. The view was incredible. It made every sore muscle and blister worth it.
Day 5
The next day, Brian took ill with altitude sickness. He was dizzy, sick, and dehydrated. The medical team stepped in fast, got him rehydrated, and kept him under close watch.
I honestly thought we’d lost another member of the team. But he’s one of the toughest people I know. The next morning, he looked at me and said: “I’m not giving up – I’m finishing this climb.”
Day 6
We set off for the summit at midnight on 8 August. It was pitch black and freezing cold. All we could see were the small lights from our head torches and the long line of other climbers ahead.
The temperature dropped to -15C, and I started to feel the sting of frostbite in my hand. Every movement hurt. Every breath burned. There were moments I honestly thought I couldn’t keep going. But I kept thinking about Bangor Foodbank, uHub, and my parents – and about everyone back home in North Down who had supported me.
As the sun rose, the sky turned gold and orange. We finally reached Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. The feeling was indescribable – relief, pride, and gratitude all mixed into one. I took out a union flag and held it up. This wasn’t just for me. It was for everyone back home who had helped make it possible.
Day 7
The descent was rough. My knees were gone, my feet were in bits, and my hand was throbbing from the frostbite. I actually lost several toenails on the way down. Every step was painful, but I didn’t care – I’d done it. I felt lighter inside than I had in years.
When we reached base camp, we hugged each other. We’d done it. Even though Simon couldn’t make the last section, we’d carried his spirit to the top with us.
That night, I lay under the stars in Africa and thought about how far I’d come – not just up a mountain, but through grief, doubt and pain.
Ken Scott, Bangor Food Bank / Peter Wilson, parliamentary assistant/ Alex Easton/ Amanda Poole, Uhub/ Cara Collins, Uhub/ Pamela Kirkpatrick, Uhub
Home again
Coming home to North Down, I was completely humbled by the response. Messages, handshakes and smiles everywhere I went.
Soon after, I presented two cheques to uHub and Bangor Foodbank. Seeing the difference that money will make is something I’ll never forget.
The mental health charity uHub can now offer more counselling and crisis support to people struggling, and Bangor Foodbank can help even more local families get through tough times. That’s what it was all about: giving something back to the community that gave me so much when I needed it most.
Climbing Kilimanjaro was the hardest thing I’ve ever done – physically, mentally and emotionally. But it was also the most rewarding. It reminded me that no matter how bad things get, there’s always hope.
Every step up that mountain was for my mum and dad, for those struggling with their mental health, and for the incredible people of North Down who showed me what real community looks like.
